eSports Betting Guide For 18 And Up Players

  • 18+ Esports BettingFind The Best 18+ eSports Betting Sites In This Guide
  • Learn How To Bet On eSports Legally In All 50 States

eSports gambling has been on a Rocket League-like trajectory of late, and the cessation of major athletics worldwide during the 2020 coronavirus pandemic drew millions of traditional bettors to this new market.

If you want to wager on the best eSports odds and lines, you can do so at any of the top 18+ sports betting sites operating online. Our eSports betting guide shows you where to gamble with only the most legitimate, licensed operators in the space.

These are also the only sportsbooks where you can get the full gamut of options on all the most popular games, organizations, competitions, and players worldwide.

Best eSports Betting Sites For 18 And Over Gamblers In 2024

SportsbookBonusUSARatingVisit
Bovada Sportsbook Logo50% Bonus
Up To $1,000
5/5Visit SiteReview
BetUS125% Bonus
Up To $3,125
4.8/5Visit SiteReview
Bookmaker.eu Logo25% Bonus
Up To $500
4.1/5Visit SiteReview
Betonline Sportsbook Logo50% Bonus
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4.2/5Visit SiteReview
Sportsbetting.ag Logo50% Bonus
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4.1/5Visit SiteReview

What is eSports?

eSport ControllerIn short, eSports is the category for all professional video game competitions. The games themselves don’t have to be sports-related, and the most popular games are, in fact, based on best-selling, widely-played non-sports video game titles.

There are numerous eSports leagues around the world, and there are tournaments and major events all year. There’s even an Olympics tie-in to the traditional Olympic Games!

What is eSports Betting?

USA gamblers will only find a robust selection of games and events to wager on at legal, overseas 18-and-up sportsbooks operating outside of US jurisdiction.

Effectively, you’re wagering on the outcomes of various eSports contests, picking winners, top players, and various prop bet outcomes as you would for any other popular athletic event.

The eSports odds work the same way as traditional sports betting odds, with most action based on the American moneyline system. And as with any sport, when you bet on eSports online at an 18 and up gambling site, you need to be sure that you understand the games in question, the rules of those games, and that you appropriately assess the skills and historical performances of the pro gamers that make up the eSports teams in question.

eSports vs. Virtual Sports

There are two other distinct electronic sports categories to be aware of. These are similar to eSports and piggyback off that industry’s massive popularity, but they differ in notable ways.

Virtual sports betting is available at all the best 18 and up online sportsbooks, and like eSports, these games are digital in nature. However, virtual sports do not use licensed or “official” mainstream sports gaming engines for their RNG (random number generation) outcomes. Instead, every major operator that offers virtual sports betting has its own software, with leagues and teams that are “generic” variants of existing clubs (and bear no statistical similarity to their real-world counterparts).

Virtual sports lets you wager on simulated sporting events. There are no human players controlling the action, and games take just a couple of minutes to conclude before you can gamble on the next matchup. Entire seasons of play take just a day or so, as virtual sporting events are held 24/7/365.

The game lines for virtual sports are the same as those you’d find for those sports IRL, and they include things like straights, spreads, and totals. Realistically, you can view virtual sports as sports-themed slot machines – only they’re a whole lot more fun than slots, especially for gamblers who strongly favor sports betting in general.

eSports vs. Sports Sims

Sports sims are the third digital option available at most 18-and-over sportsbook sites. They are sort of a hybrid between eSports and virtual sports. That is, sims use real commercial video game sports engines, teams, and rosters (e.g., Madden 21, NHL 21, NBA 2K21, etc.), but they don’t feature human players. Games are typically condensed a bit, but they play out in real-time, allowing you to watch the simulated action in full.

Most sites have live streams available right on the sports sims betting boards themselves, with those same streams available live on services like YouTube, Twitch, and others. Some sites even allow live wagering on sports sims, which is something you can’t get for virtual sports.

Like virtual sports (and unlike eSports), sports sims are strictly sports-themed. As with real sports betting, you can even get an edge on the sports sims odds boards if you’re familiar with the real-world stats of the players and teams in question.


How To Bet On eSports In The US At 18+

In the United States, eSports betting is only widely available at offshore betting sites like those listed here. Thus, you will need a membership at one or more of these reputable online sportsbooks.

We recommend signing up with several different books to maximize your access to the many different games and leagues these sites cover, as not all operators feature the same lineups of titles or events.

Signing up at multiple books lets you shop lines for the best possible payouts on any event. To sign up with one or more of the top 18+ eSports betting sites, simply visit any of the links here, click or tap the “Join” or “Sign Up” button, fill out the provided form, make a deposit (we recommend Bitcoin or any another supported cryptocurrency), browse the boards, and place your bets!

Understanding eSports Betting Odds

If you’ve ever bet on sports, you’ll know how to bet on eSports. The odds and lines available are the same as you’re familiar with in other markets, and they’re listed the same way (i.e., the favorite has a negative moneyline, and the underdog has a positive moneyline).

The types you’re most likely to come across include the following:

  • Straights – Pick the winner straight up.
  • Spreads – Pick which player/team will beat the spread (rounds, games, etc.)
  • Totals – Pick whether or not a given player/team exceeds the number of round or match wins published by the book.
  • Props – Wager on all kinds of lines specific to each game, like which team gets the first kill, which player scores the most points, which team defeats the first boss, etc.
  • Futures – Pick the team you think will win a given eSports tournament or event.

Where To Bet On eSports For 18+ Players

As stated, the only way to get a comprehensive eSports menu is to gamble on the games at offshore sites legally operating outside of the US. This means that betting on eSports online is the only safe, legal way to go about it.

Remember, domestic USA sportsbooks for 18-and-up players do not generally feature eSports, and the market is actually banned in many states that offer local options.

The best sites to wager on eSports odds are those listed here. Each one offers a robust selection of the most popular eSports titles, leagues, and events.

What Are The Top eSports Games To Bet On?

For the most part, eSports growth is based on the popularity of the games on offer. If you’re investing in eSports as part of your permanent gambling portfolio, you need to focus on the most prominent games being played at the major tournament level.

Per the most current eSports betting statistics, the following games are the most wagered on in the market. Again, the top eSports games are not sports-related thematically, which means that you may need to do some research to familiarize yourself with each title’s unique gameplay options and scoring formats before wagering.

fortnight dapNon-Sports-Themed Games

  • Dota 2
  • CS: GO (Counter-Strike: Global Offensive)
  • Fortnite
  • League of Legends
  • Starcraft II
  • Overwatch
  • WarCraft 3
  • PUBG
  • Hearthstone
  • Heroes of the Storm
  • Arena of Valor
  • Rainbow Six Siege
  • Rocket League
  • COD (Call of Duty: Modern Warfare)
  • Valorant
  • Mobile Legends
  • Magic the Gathering
  • King of Glory (Wangzhe Rongyao/Honor of Kings)

Sports Themed Games

  • FC/FIFA
  • Madden (NFL)
  • NASCAR Ignition
  • NBA 2K
  • MLB The Show
  • NHL 2K
  • UFC

Live eSports Betting At 18-Plus Sportsbooks

Because eSports competitions take place over extended periods of time – and because the matches themselves can take several hours (like traditional sports) – you can often find live betting lines.

Live wagers allow you to put money on dynamically shifting odds that change in real-time to reflect the ebb and flow of a given contest. It’s not only the most exciting way to gamble on eSports games, but it’s also a great way to recover bad pre-game bets and boost your bankroll further by doubling down on sure things and wipeouts.

The ability to watch events as they happen is crucial, so you need to make sure you have a way to view those games. Fortunately, whether you wager on desktop or mobile, streaming options are widely available for the biggest matchups.

Mobile eSports Betting Apps

All the top eSports betting sites for 18+ players make it a priority to ensure that all their odds and viewing options are available on the go.

These sportsbooks are all mobile optimized and device-agnostic, meaning that you’ll get a customized betting experience that fits any make or model of device, conforms to any screen size from the smallest smartphone to the biggest tablet, and runs seamlessly through any modern mobile web browser.

There’s nothing to download or update – Just fire up Safari or Chrome (or any other browser), head over to your site of choice, and place your wagers. Whether you want to bet on the go or bet at home, eSports odds are available to you anywhere you’ve got a mobile network connection.

Betting On eSports Tips

  • Make sure you understand the rules of each game you’re wagering on.
  • Research the past performances of the professional gamers and teams involved in any lines you’re interested in.
  • Remember that team rosters rotate annually (and often during the various event seasons within a single calendar year).
  • Compare the recent head-to-head records of teams playing against one another.
  • Be selective about the odds you choose to wager on, as each contest can feature dozens of lines and props.
  • If two teams are evenly matched (i.e., the game is a “coin toss”), take the better payout every time. Remember, sports betting is a long-haul proposition, and this strategy will earn you money in the long run.
  • Don’t place huge wagers. Limit your bets to 1-3% of your bankroll.
  • Don’t chase losses. If you lose, don’t try to make up that lost money by gambling on a line you would have otherwise skipped. Live to gamble another day!
  • Don’t risk more than you can afford to lose.

18+ eSports Betting Banking Options

The top 18 and up sportsbooks all have a host of bet funding options that allow you to quickly and easily top off your bankroll so you can wager on all the best eSports action of the day.

For immediate deposits, cryptocurrency, credit, and debit options are best, but more traditional methods are also available. Not every 18+ eSports betting site has a banking option, but they all support Bitcoin, credit, and debit payments.

Typically, you’ll find the following avenues to get your account loaded up with funds:

  • Bitcoin (BTC)
  • Altcoins (Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, Ethereum, Stellar, Ripple, etc.)
  • Zelle-To-Bitcoin
  • MatchPay (PayPal, Venmo, Cash App, Zelle)
  • QB Direct (QuickBit)
  • Credit Cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express)
  • Debit Cards
  • International Gift Cards
  • Cashier’s Checks
  • Money Orders
  • Bank Wires
  • Person-To-Person Services
  • Account Transfers/Vouchers

For same-day payouts, we recommend using cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and others. These also come with no added fees, the most versatile deposit and withdrawal limits, the best eSports bonuses, and heightened transaction security due to their quantum-hacking-resistant blockchain protocols.

Please note that to claim eSports betting payouts, you will have to prove your identity, as all the top sites employ KYC (Know Your Customer) standards to combat fraud and ensure safe, secure financial transfers. Your personal information is kept private and is never sold to third parties.


FAQ'sFAQs

Can I bet on eSports at 18?

Yes! As long as you use the top betting sites listed here, you can wager on eSports online and win real money. Remember, domestic US 18 and up sportsbooks are very thin on eSports odds – if they offer them at all. For betting on eSports games, international sportsbooks are the only game in town.

Are eSports gambling sites safe?

Absolutely, but only if you use the best, most reputable operators in the business.

The sites we recommend have all withstood the test of time in the industry, have been serving millions of US customers for years, and offer guaranteed payouts for all their thousands of daily betting lines.

Further, these sites use the latest in encryption technologies (SSL, TLS), ensuring that your betting activities are secure and that all your private information stays private.

Are eSports sportsbooks legit?

Yes, the highest-rated eSports gambling operators are all completely legitimate enterprises.

These sites operate legally within the industry and hold all the requisite licenses and regulatory credentials. They are regularly audited for fail-play iGaming compliance by noted industry watchdogs. Furthermore, when you sign up and bet real money, our favorite books offer a welcoming gambling environment.

How old do I have to be to bet on eSports?

To legally wager on eSports at any of the top offshore betting sites, you only have to be 18 or older. As long as you’re 18 and up, all the most reputable operators in the industry will accept your membership.

Please do not sign up if you’re under 18, however, as this would violate your betting site’s terms of service and result in your betting account being banned.

Additional Resources

The Official Website Of EA Sports